Sandman’s Dream is noticed by those around him like Jessamy and Lucienne

The first time we see the dream lord shows a lot of emotion in Netflix The Sandman Customization is for a bird named Jessamy.

[Ed. note: This post contains slight spoilers for the first episode of The Sandman season 1.]

Having been held prisoner by humans for many years, he had spent most of his time in his bubble prison, brooding and awaiting release. But when Jessamy shows up, he briefly shows emotion: a flicker of a hopeful smile, then hot, angry tears as she is shot dead in front of his eyes.

“The savagery of my captors testified to a world whose dreams grew even darker in my absence,” Dreams Off commentary tells us. He continues to stare, steely and cold, unresponsive and not at all ready to speak.

It’s an attitude he’ll adopt throughout much of the series, a cool and grumpy goth who walks as easily as he shows emotion. When Dream’s kidnapper’s son takes over his captivity, Dream finds that he couldn’t forgive him for killing his raven. If you’re new to the show, it can be hard to really understand how traumatic the period begins The Sandman is for Dream of the Endless – instead, much of his emotion is translated through people close to him, like Lucienne.

Image: Netflix

“He was captured in such a brutal, inhuman way. and it Has changed him,” Vivienne Acheampong, who plays Lucienne, told Polygon. “There is a deep bond [between Lucienne and Dream]; They spend most of their time together forever and ever […] so she really knows the essence of his being. But what happened to him toughened him up.”

This trauma hangs over Dream throughout his adventures as he works to regain his full strength and remember why he fulfills his obligations to people (and the world). Season 1 of The Sandman it’s really about Dream pulling himself together emotionally. And he’s forced to lean on everyone else to help him get there – from Matthew and Johanna Constantine to adversaries like John Dee.

“He’s probably the most vulnerable he’s ever been in his life. And because of his lack of power, he’s probably the closest thing to being human,” says Tom Sturridge, who plays Dream. “I think that’s why his relationship with Rose is so important, because he’s starting to understand more about what it means to be human. And she’s so alive and so generous and brave and I think she disarmed him.”

But while Rose reminds him of the affection he has for the world at large, it’s Lucienne who keeps him in check and even challenges him to carry out his duties with heart. Sometimes that means lining up, but sometimes, as Acheampong notes, it reminds him of how much growth is possible, even for an omnipotent being who might not change much.

Photo: Laurence Cendrowicz/Netflix

“He has seen the worst of humanity and is vengeful,” says Acheampong. “So I think Lucienne wants to bring him back to the being she knows he is; She understands that he needs those rules and regulations. And he has to suppress a bit, because that keeps the universe intact. But still she pulls out his conscience and this empathy he has and she just wants to remind him of that.

“I think for me, for Lucienne, she believes in dreaming; She understands how important it is and she wants to protect it. And the same goes for her feelings for Morpheus.” Acheampong continues, “She believes in his work, she understands how important it is. […] She would never leave; She always knew he would return.”

All 10 episodes of The Sandman stream now on Netflix.

Additional reporting by Tasha Robinson.